CARDINALS CAMP DETAILSWhen: The normal time for practices open to the public at University of Phoenix Stadium will be 2-4:30 p.m.CLICK HERE FOR CAMP SCHEDULEParking: Parking and admission are free. Parking lots are open on the east side of the stadium (Green and Gray) and will open each practice day at 12:30 p.m. Use the Green entry off 91st Avenue. For Friday-Sunday practices, additional lots on the West (Orange) side of the stadium also will be available.Stadium entry: Enter through Gate 3 on the east side of the stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m. Fans can also enter through the team store at the north end near Gate 2. For Friday-Sunday practices entry is also possible at Gate 1 on the west side of the building. All fans will be subject to screening, including an inspection of all items brought inside the stadium.Seating: Open seating for fans will be on the east side of the stadium in the lower level. For Friday-Sunday practices, additional lower-bowl seating will be provided on the west side of the stadium. In addition, the south bridge will also be accessible as a vantage point.Also: Players will sign autographs along the lower-field walls for a limited time before leaving the field. ... food and beverage concession stands will be open throughout the stadium.

By Bob Young, columnistazcentral sports Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:47 AM

There evidently is some disagreement about exactly where the term “a chip on his shoulder” originated.

We looked into it only because there appeared to be an inordinate number of Cardinals walking around with chips on their shoulders as the team prepared for Saturday’s preseason game against the Cowboys.

Some believe the phrase arose from a labor dispute in British dockyards during the 1700s.

According to phrases.org.uk, workers were allowed to take with them as many “chips” of surplus firewood as they could carry on their shoulders. The policy was changed, allowing dock workers to take only what they could carry under one arm, leading to a dispute.

A letter in British Naval documents notes that one dockworker approached the gates carrying wood on his shoulder and was told to put them down.

“Are not the chips mine? I will not lower them,” he answered, and the report states that “Immediately the main body (of workers) pushed on with their chips on their shoulders.”

About 100 years later in the U.S. stories emerged of kids placing a chip of wood on their shoulder as a challenge. If you want a fight, just try to knock it off.

However it originated, the phrase has come to be a symbol of defiance. One who feels disrespected, overlooked or under-appreciated is said to have “a chip on his shoulder.”

And, man, do the Cardinals ever have a lot of disrespected, overlooked and/or under-appreciated players. Or, so it appears with so many sporting a chip on their shoulder pads.

Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for more than 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns last season in Oakland, but Jason La Canfora of CBSsports.com wrote recently the Cardinals “feel as if Palmer has a bit of a chip on his shoulder ...”

Rantsports.com wrote of running back Rashard Mendenhall, “You can bet after the way the season ended (last year in Pittsburgh) he has a chip on his shoulder ...”

Rookie Andre Ellington, who slipped to the sixth round in the draft, told Fox Sports Radio (910 AM) that for teams that overlooked him, “I am going to go out and approach every game with a chip on my shoulder.”

And Stepfan Taylor, another rookie who was drafted in the fifth round, told the Dallas Morning News, “All it does is add a chip on your shoulder, more motivation.”

So, it’s sort of like a chip-by-committee back there.

Of course, no group deserves to carry a chip like the offensive line. It took most of the blame for the team’s offensive problems last season. Arizona surrendered 58 sacks, and the Cardinals ranked last in the NFL in rushing with an average of 75.2 yards a game.

Rookie guard Earl Watford, a fourth-round pick from James Madison, already is in the spirit, telling KTAR (620 AM) that because of his small-school status, “Oh, of course I have a chip on my shoulder.”

The chip is flying on defense, too.

The entire unit is probably motivated to show that their success last season wasn’t just the product of Ray Horton’s system, and the interior of the defensive line is a little sensitive about ranking 28th against the run.

Now some newcomers have thrown in their chips.

For instance, the blog raisingzona.com said pass rusher John Abraham, who has said the Cardinals got him on the cheap, “probably has at least a little chip on his shoulder.”

And rookie Tyrann Mathieu, who makes his first preseason start at safety Saturday, was out of football last season after being dismissed by Louisiana State for repeated violations of team rules, which evidently include a ban on certain recreational substances.

General Manager Steve Keim called Honey Badger a “gym rat,” telling our Bob McManaman that “he was one of the first rookies in the weight room every morning, and” ... wait for it ... “he's obviously got a chip on his shoulder.”

You know who ought to have a chip on his shoulder? Larry Fitzgerald.

Chris Smith of Forbes.com placed Fitz seventh on a list of the NFL’s most overpaid players because his productivity fell short of his salary last season.

See, that’s a load of chip right there. What’s the guy supposed to do, throw the ball and then go catch it? It’s not like he’s Patrick Peterson or something.

It’s pretty astounding that Fitzgerald has put up the numbers that he has while playing with six different starting quarterbacks since Kurt Warner retired after the 2009 season. Heck, there were four different starters last season alone.

Come to think of it, one of them was John Skelton, who told his hometown newspaper the El Paso Times at about this time last year, “I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder.”

Uh oh.

Reach The Heat Index at 602-444-8271 or bob.young@arizonarepublic.com. Follow us on Twitter @BobYoungTHI.

Posting a comment to our website allows you to join in on the conversation. Share your story and unique perspective with members of the azcentral.com community.

Comments posted via facebook:

► Join the Discussion

Join the conversation! To comment on azcentral.com, you must be logged into an active personal account on Facebook. You are responsible for your comments and abuse of this privilege will not be tolerated. We reserve the right, without warning or notification, to remove comments and block users judged to violate our Terms of Service and Rules of Engagement. Facebook comments FAQ

Join thousands of azcentral.com fans on Facebook and get the day's most popular and talked-about Valley news, sports, entertainment and more - right in your newsfeed. You'll see what others are saying about the hot topics of the day.